Lamp holder



E. A. LINSDAY Jan. 1, 1946.

LAMP HOLDER Filed Oct. 11, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Irwventofi: Elton A.L,insiday,

V 'btohn ey.

Jan. 1, 1946. L'NSDAY 2,392,164

' LAMP HOLDER Filed 0c:t, 11, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Irgventor: E1 on A.L,ins ay,

H is Attorney.

Patented Jan. 1, 1946 UNIT EZD ATENT OFF-ICE Elton A. designer to General Electric Company, a "corpo ation New York ex lioaximsoetooeru, 1944-, Serial No. 558,197

T2 Claims.

- The zpresmthwen tionmelates to lamp holders and irrarticularlytolemp holders for incandescent .lam'ps wherein "the terminals-of the lampco'm- ,prise *two posts. Such lamps are known as hi post -.lamps; Usually,--lamps or this type ere "high wattage lamps'which means that the termnaliposts of the lamps and "the lamp holders are required to carry relatively large curr'e'nts.

One object of my invention is to provide an :improvedlamp holder tor a lamp of thehl'post type which isxs'impl'e in -st'ruct'u ie, insures 'po'si five electrical Contact of large area 'b'et wen'the terminal lpdStS of the-lamp and the lamp holder contacts so as to avoid overheating of the tenninal'posts arid. lamp holder contacts, "and permits of the lamp "being easily connected to and disengaged from "the lamp holder without undue strain on the i-posts-o'f the lamp. 7

n :fiurther object or my hiventlon is to provide a. "lamp .holder'wh'erei-n the contact 'p'o'st's of the lamp are inserted into the lamp holder after which the lamp is turned through a short rare to 'complete the circuit between the contact posts of the lamp and the lam holder contacts, the turning serving to infect tight contact between the current "conducting "parts- Preferably, there is provided also means whereby when the lamp has been turned "in the holder to bring the contact posts of the lamp into engagement with the terminal contacts or the lamp holdenxthe lamp is locked in position in the lamp holder and cannot be removed entil it is turned back to its former position wherein its contact osts-are out of en"ga"gemerftwith"-the terminal contacts of the lamp :holder.

Other objects of my invention and the seven tages'thereo'f will be pointed out 'herc'inaf ter.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following specification and to the claims appended thereto.

In 'the drawings:

Fig. l :is a sectional view of a lamp holder e'fnbodying my invention, it being shown with the contact posts of. 1a hlpo'st lamp in :bositlon in the holder "and mnnected to thelamp holder termln'als; Eig. msi-a secti'onalview taken on line 2- -1, Fig. 1:; Fig. 3 is a section-a1 view taken line -3---3, Fig. 2, and zshowing a blpost lamp-end adiacent to it; Fig. 31 is a detail view partly in section illustrating a part of the structure shown in'Flgs. l and 3; his. 51s :a face view taken on line Ii -5, Fig. 1 looking :in .ther 'directlonzof the arrows, and 6 is expilod'ed View showing :Reterring'to th'e drawings, 5| indicates a'base of -sultahle insulating material-whlchlin the prese-tlt'instance is'sho'wn as being round and adapted to be connected to a sup-port 2 by screws 3 which extend through openings the base and thread into tapped holes 4 in the support. The hese comprises a side wall 5 and an end'or bottom wall 6, the other end being openthus providing a'v'vell in the base. The inner-surface of the side "wall is shaped to provide *an "annular shoulder or ledge 1 spaced from-the open end of the'base and. Separated into two 'arc'uate "sections "by diametrically opposed "projections '8. Positioned in 'each-arcuat'e section is'an arcuate strip 9 or a material which provides a, suitable wear surtac'e, each strip being provided at its 'end with feet 110 which restonsh'oulder 'Tiso that the strips are spaced from theshoulder. Strips ":9 may he formed from a suitable metal. The .feet are of 'a lengths-och that the outer surfaces "of thestrips are about flush with the surfaces of the projectionsztl. The outer surfaces of the strips and the surfaces of the :projections 8 thus forming a continuous annular ledge in the well spaced from the open endof'the well. The arcuate'strips -9 are wedge-shaped as shown clearly in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. Thus, there is provided in thesl'de wall 'o'fithe base at a point spaced inwardly from sits opene'nd'two arcuate grooves 1! 0 the ilm-erw'alls of which are formed by the surface of "shoulder 1 land the outer walls of which are formed by the inner surfaces H "of the strips 9 whioh 'are in the form of cam surfaces; Mounted in openings in bottom wall 6 are "stationary contacts each having :a head l2 and'sa tongue 13 which projectsfrom the head andis adapted to receive a :screw "Mai-or connecting :an' electrical wire to the contact. The inner surface of end wall 6 is 'shaped to provide cam surfaces 15 which slope upward toward the top surfaces of heads i2,*terminatin'g ilush'wlth the top surfaces of the :heads as shown "clearly in Fig. 3. Thus, the top "sur of'tlte .heads 'IZ form in s-ubstance'ia' contlnuation of cam lsutfaceszl'ir L'Ilhe 'camivsunfaces :11 and 15 :are substantially parallel 'with other.

Positioned "in the well of the base is a carrier comprising a cylindrical body I 6 having 9, songs ".11 which rests on the annular shoulder Ioi'med by-the top surfaces of strips 9 and 'pro jec'tionsi andii's adapted to turn thereon. In body 1 6 are two axial-1y extending tapered recesses "'18, the rercesseszbemg widest at theirinner ends. :m outer "ends the recesses temfinate flush with-the the .pa-rtswhich go :to makeup thelampholdet. so underside or flange 11 and throug h'the bodyare the cam surfaces II of the strips 9. The inner ends of connectors 20 are flat as is indicated at Hand are adapted to be moved along the inclined 7 surface I5 into engagement with the heads I2 of the terminal contacts. The flat ends insure contact over substantial areas. The two parts ofthe wedge-shaped connectors are provided with recesses 23 which form an opening which stands in line with openings I9 and are adaptedto receivethe posts of a bipost lamp. In body I6 beneath flange I! is an annular groove 23 in' which edges of strips 9 are positioned, the strips being wider than shoulder].

The carrier is held-in position in the base I by a bolt 24 which extends through a central opening in the carrier and through bottom wall nut a suitable spring 25 and a washer 26.

the carrier is held yieldingly in the base I. Nut

24. is tightenedto bring flange I'l' down tight against the shoulder on which it turns. However, the spring will permit the carrier to move slightly axially when the connectors 29 ride up on the tops of the contact heads'l2. V

The end of a known type of bipost lamp is shown in Figs. 1, 3and 4. It'comprises a glass envelope 2!v andtwo contact posts 28' which pro-' ject from the base of the lamp. The contact posts are 'undercut adjacent their inner ends to provide shoulders 29.' This is a known typeof bipost lamp construction now on the market. To look the lamp in the lamp holder, the arcuate strips 9 are provided with projecting flanges 39 which are adapted to stand over shoulders 29. Turning movement of the carrier in the base is limited by feet 2| striking the ends of the arcuate grooves III in the base. When the feet' are at is provided contacts of substantial area between the heads I2 and the connectors 20 and between the connectors 20 and the posts 28. As soon as turning movement of the lamp and carrier is started, shoulders 29 are moved under flanges 30.

' when it is being inserted and removed.

' 9 and receives on its lower end a, nut 24 there being positioned between the bottom wall and the Thus,

the. one end of the arcuate grooves I0 the connectors 29 are positioned on the contact heads I2. The flanges 3D terminate short of the ends of the strips 9 at the one end so that when the feet 2I are atthe other end. of the arcuate grooves, the

I of strips 9 at which the flange 30 is not present so that the posts of the lamp may be readily inserted through'the openings I9 to positions he- ;tween the two parts of the connectorsZO. Now

by turning the lamp, it and the carrier move the connectors up, the inclined surfaces I5 which results in moving the connectors upwardly in wedge-shaped recesses I8 to force the parts of the connectors into tight engagement with the posts; and at the end of the turning movement, theends of the connectors 20 ride up onto the tops of contact heads I2. The postsare now tightly gripped between the parts of the connectors 20 which are wedged against them, and by reason of the spring 25, the ends of the connectors are held firmly in engagement with the top surfaces of heads I2 over a substantial area. Thus, there The recesses I8 and the connectors 20 are tapered relatively toeach other by amounts such.

that when the parts of the lamp holder are in tively loose permitting the posts to be readily inserted therebetween; and when the lamp and carrier are turned to move the connectors up the inclined planes I5, the axial movement of the connectors is suflicient to wedge the parts of the connectors tightly against the posts; The cam surfaces II serve to move the connectors axially downward when a lamp is turnedto remove'it from the lamp holder thus releasing the posts of the lamp from the grip of the connectors during such turning movement.

Flanges 30 are adapted-toicover partially the openings I9: so that the posts of a lamp cannot beinserted through theropenings I9 except at a timewhen the openings have been brought .out

from under the flanges. I

By my invention, I provide a lamp holder which is relatively simple in structure, comprises few parts and is capable of being manufactured at low cost. At the same time, there is provided alamp holder wherein the posts of a bipost lamp are tightly clamped over surfaces of substantial area thus. enabling ,the passage of. relatively large currents without overheating. This latter is a thing of substantial importance in a lamp holder of this type. The arrangement of the spaced cam surfaces efiect positive iclamping and unclamping of the post of the lamp when a lamp is inserted and removed from the lamp holder.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operaturnable therein about its axis, a pair of split' connectors carried by the, carrier adapted toreceive between the parts thereof the posts of a bipost lamp and movable into and out of engage.- ment with said terminal contacts by turning movement of said carrier, and means for moving the parts of the "split connectors relatively to each other when the carrier is-turned'to'cause them to clam theposts of av bipost lamp inserted therebetween. l

2. A lamp holder for a'bipost lamp comprising 7 a base having a well and a pair of spacedterminal contacts in the well, a carrier, in thewell turnable therein about itsaxis, connectors car ried by the carrier for engagement with the posts of a bipost lamp and movable into and out of engagement with said terminal contacts by turning movement of said carrier, and means which moves said connectors to clamp the posts of a bipost lamp when the posts of a bipost lamp are positioned in engagement with them and the carrier is turned to bring the connectors into engagement with the terminal contacts.

3. A lamp holder for a bipost lamp comprising a base having a well and spaced terminal contacts, a carrier in the well provided with axially extending recesses, connectors for engagement with the posts of a bipost lamp positioned in and axially movable in said recesses, said carrier being movable in said well to move said connectors into and out of engagement with said terminal contacts, means defining a surface in said well which, effects axial movement of said connectors when the carrier is turned to bring said connectors into engagement with said terminal contacts, and means whereby axial movement of said connectors causes them to clam the posts of a bipost lamp.

4. A lamp holder for bipost lamps comprising a base having a well and walls which define in the well axially spaced circumferentially extending cam surfaces, a rotatable carrier in said well having axially extending tapered recesses, axially split wedge-shaped connectors in said tapered recesses having axially extending grooves into which the posts of a bipost lamp may be positioned, the ends of said connectors engaging said cam surfaces whereby when the carrier is turned about its axis the parts of the wedge-shaped connectors are moved axially in said tapered recesses to efiect movement of such parts toward each other, and terminal contacts in said base with which said wedge-shaped connectors engage.

5. A lamp holder for a bipost lamp comprising a base having a well and spaced terminal contacts in the well, a carrier in the well provided with axially extending recesses, axially split connectors in said recesses between the parts of which the posts of a bipost lamp may be positioned, said carrier being turnable in the well to bring the split connectors into and out of engagement with said terminal contacts, and means for effecting axial movement of the split connectors in said recesses when the carrier is turned to bring the split connectors into engagement with the terminal contacts, surfaces of said split connectors and of said recesses being so shaped relatively to each other than axial movement of the split connectors in the recesses causes them to clamp the posts of a bipost lamp inserted therebetween.

6. A lamp holder for a bipost lamp comprising a base having a well, a carrier mounted in the well for turning movement therein, two part connectors carried by the carrier for engaging opposite sides of the posts of a bipost lamp, means whereby turning movement of the carrier in the base causes said connectors to clamp the p sts of a bipost lamp, and terminal contacts with which said connectors engage.

'7. A lamp holder for a bipost lamp comprising a base having a well and a pair of spaced terminal contacts in the well, a carrier in the well turnable therein about its axis, connectors carried by the carrier for engagement with the posts of a bipost lamp and movable into and out of engagement with said terminal contacts by tuming movement of said carrier, and means which moves said connectors to clamp the posts of a bipost lamp when the posts of a bipost lamp are positioned in engagement with them and the carrier is turned to bring the connectors in-to engagement with the terminal contacts, and means for locking a lamp in the holder when the connectors are in engagement with the terminal contacts.

8. A lamp holder for a bipost lamp comprising a base having a well provided with cam surfaces on its bottom wall, terminal contacts adjacent to said cam surfaces, a carrier rotatably mounted in said well having axially extending recesses, connectors adapted to engage said terminal contacts and the posts of a bipost lamp positioned in said recesses and movable axially therein by said cam surfaces when the carrier is turned therein, and means whereby axial movement of said connectors causes them to clamp the posts of a bipost lamp.

9. A lamp holder for a bipost lamp comprising a base having a well provided with cam surfaces on its bottom wall, terminal contacts adjacent to said cam surfaces, a carrier rotatably mounted in said well having axially extending recesses, connectors adapted to engage said terminal contacts and the posts of a bipost lamp positioned in said recesses and movable axially therein by said cam surfaces when the carrier is turned therein, means whereby axial movement of said connectors causes them to clamp the posts of a bipost lamp, and yielding means acting in an axial direction to force the ends of the terminal contacts and the connectors into firm engagement with each other.

10. A lamp holder for a bipost lamp comprising a base having terminal contacts mounted therein, a carrier mounted in the base for turning movement therein, connectors carried by the carrier for engagement with the posts of a bipost lamp and with said terminal contacts, said connectors being axially movable relatively to the carrier, cam surfaces for effecting axial movement of said connectors when the carrier is turned on the base and means whereby axial movement of said connectors causes them to clamp the posts of a bipost lamp.

11. A lamp holder for a bipost lamp comprising a base, a carrier rotatably mounted on the base having axially extending recesses, axially movable connectors in said recesses adapted to engage the posts of a bipost lamp, terminal contacts on the base, cam surfaces adjacent'to said contacts up which said connectors ride into engagement with said terminal contacts when the carrier is turned on the base, and means whereby axial movement of said connectors causes them to clamp the posts of a bipost lamp.

12. A lamp holder for a bipost lamp comprising a base, split connectors carried by the base, terminal contacts carried by the base with which said connectors may be moved into and out of engagement, and means operated by the insertion of the posts of a bipost lamp into engagement with said split connectors and the movement of the connectors into engagement with the terminal contacts to cause them to clamp such posts.

ELTON A. LINSDAY. 

